Jefferson Parish tax renewals all pass easily

Jefferson Parish voters came out in strong support of five tax renewals in Saturday’s election, extending a raft of property taxes that fund a variety of services from road lighting to the parish’s criminal justice system for the next 10 years.

Each of the taxes, most of which only cover specific areas of the parish, passed with at least 65 percent of the vote.

Voters supported the extension of a 1-mill, parishwide tax that is split between the parish’s criminal justice apparatus and parks and cultural programs with 66 percent of the vote. About 10,860 residents voted for that measure.

Another measure, which covers unincorporated Jefferson Parish and the town of Jean Lafitte, passed with 70 percent of the vote. About 4,890 voters cast ballots in favor of the 2.5-mill tax, which funds criminal justice programs, cultural programs and parks, economic development and services for the elderly.

Voters also extended a 3-mill tax that funds road lighting in the unincorporated areas of the parish and in Jean Lafitte. That measure passed with 72 percent of the vote, with 5,021 residents voting to extend it.

In Grand Isle, two measures that fund road lighting and ambulance services both passed. The 5 mill road lighting district tax received 244 votes, or 93 percent of the total, while the 10-mill ambulance district tax received 252 votes, also with 93 percent of the total.